Letter of Introduction (posted January 20)
Hey there.
I guess I'm here to introduce myself to you all. So I'll start with my opinions on school. I'm not really a guy with lofty goals. I don't particularly care about doing well in school, but I do enjoy learning. AP lang is a little bit too much work for me, but I'm doing my best to keep up with everything we're being assigned.
Besides that, I just like to have fun. Some of my favorite things to do are longboarding and weight lifting. I also enjoy football, track and field, art, music, and creative writing. I'd like to play soccer because I think it's a great game but I don't quite have the endurance for that, so I'll stick to being a spectator. I really enjoy being active and being outside. Camping and exploring nature are some of the best things to do, in my opinion. I'm really excited to graduate high school and move on to college, hopefully somewhere far, far away from Iowa. Mostly because I despise winter but also because Iowa has become extremely boring. I also love to travel. I hope to be fluent in German someday, and perhaps live in Germany either temporarily or permanently.
Mostly, I'm open to whatever life has to give me, and I try to make the most out of any situation I'm in. I hope to improve my relationships with you all over this semester, and maybe even learn a little bit about the English language. Personal Reflection on Topic of Inquiry(posted January 27 -- Peer Response January 29)
Recently, I realized the huge disparities in economic status throughout the world. Here in America, we complain about not having the newest iPhone or computer or the best car or cool clothes, But in developing countries in other parts of the world, people are elated just to be able to eat for the day. The people who Americans, and the rest of the western world, consider to be poor, would be some of the wealthier people in most places. It hardly seems fair that we should have so much while the rest of the world has so little, but very few of us would make even a small sacrifice to help people who are struggling to survive.
I used to think that the citizens of third-world countries should be able to help themselves out of poverty. I thought that it wasn't my problem, and that I should let them take care of themselves while I handled my own business. It was easy for me to feel this way because I was tired of all of America's interference in the affairs of other countries, and I still am tired of it, but in some cases, perhaps, it's necessary.
I believe that every member of the human race could live comfortably, if the minority of us, who consider themselves "middle class" while the rest of the world is starving to death, would give up just a small part of our relative wealth to help the ones who need it the most. The people of the world have a lot of potential, but they can't realize that potential when their entire life is spent struggling to survive. Maybe the world would be a better place if they could make their contributions to society, technology, science, literature, and all of the other areas from which they are excluded by fate.
The real question is, when will we help? Rough Draft Definition (posted February 3 -- Peer Response February 5) Sexism
For thousands of years, women all over the world have been treated as second-class citizens by their male overlords. Due to males’ superior strength and higher level of aggression brought about by the amount of testosterone produced by the male body, men have held power over women in a world that, until recently, has been dominated by the people who were the strongest, fastest, most ruthless, and most intelligent specimens of the human race. These attributes were almost never found in women because of the natural, physical differences between males and females, and also because of women’s exclusion from the scholastic world and their imprisonment enforced by the cult of domesticity. In recent years, however, the need for the physical ability of men has been declining while the number of women in positions of power, especially in the western world, has been increasing tremendously. Now that women have finally been able to wrest their freedoms from the hands of men they have become bold and self-confident members of society who can compete, both mentally and physically with males, disproving the long-held belief that women are somehow less capable than men in dealing with the challenges of males. Women’s fight for equality, however, is far from over. At the front of this conflict, naturally, is the issue of sexism. The term sexism is in need of a clear definition. Many people in the general public, even quite a few feminists, are severely mistaken when it comes to the true meaning of sexism. Dictionaries define sexism as “Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.” To many people this is an effective, concise, and accurate definition. Oddly enough, however, there are many, both male and female, who are confused by this description.
There is no denying the fact that many women are discriminated against simply because of their gender. It is, however, worth noting that men can also be targets of sexism. One common example of sexism towards males is the stereotype of the fat, lazy man who sits around in his “man cave” all day watching sports and drinking light beer. This stereotype is just as offensive and sexist as that of the girl who spends her time shopping for expensive clothing and makeup and nagging males about relationships or chores or whatever else she might be angry about. So although women are usually the target of sexism, they can also be the culprit behind gender-based discrimination. Another common example of sexism is the compulsion many men feel to protect women from every danger a woman might encounter. This may be sexism with good intentions but assuming that women are unable to protect themselves diminishes their power in the eyes of others and can lead to a lower level of self-respect. One of the worst cases of sexism is found in the work place. Businesses are not legally required to give equal pay for equal work to men and women, and many businesses choose not to pay women as well as they pay men doing the same job. Sexism is an important issue in our society that should be confronted and until it is men and women will be unable to achieve equality.
There are countless instances of sexism to be found in the world today and there will still be sexism throughout the rest of humanity’s time on this earth. In order to be able to confront the problem of sexism, one must understand clearly and deeply what it is and why it is an issue. It is important for one to know what sexism is, and what sexism is not. There are a multitude of misconceptions concerning sexism that are very widely held. Ignorance about the issue of sexism should be fought just as hard as sexism itself. There exist, however, a great number of people who understand what sexism is, and it is their responsibility to educate those who are proliferating the type of ignorance that should be combated. Until more people realize what a problem gender-based discrimination is, and until they truly know the meaning of the term sexism, complete understanding between the genders cannot be achieved, and if that understanding can be achieved, the world will be a much better place for it. Revision Definition (posted February 10 -- Peer Response February 12 )
Sexism
For thousands of years, women all over the world have been treated as second-class citizens by their male overlords. Due to males’ superior strength and higher level of aggression brought about by the amount of testosterone produced by the male body, men have held power over women in a world that, until recently, has been dominated by the people who were the strongest, fastest, most ruthless, and most intelligent specimens of the human race. These attributes were almost never found in women because of the natural, physical differences between males and females, and also because of women’s exclusion from the scholastic world and their imprisonment enforced by the cult of domesticity. In recent years, however, the need for the physical ability of men has been declining while the number of women in positions of power, especially in the western world, has been increasing tremendously. Now that women have finally been able to wrest their freedoms from the hands of men they have become bold and self-confident members of society who can compete, both mentally and physically with males, disproving the long-held belief that women are somehow less capable than men in dealing with the challenges of males. Women’s fight for equality, however, is far from over. At the front of this conflict, naturally, is the issue of sexism. The term sexism is in need of a clear definition. Many people in the general public, even quite a few feminists, are severely mistaken when it comes to the true meaning of sexism. Dictionaries define sexism as “Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.” To many people this is an effective, concise, and accurate definition. Oddly enough, however, there are many, both male and female, who are confused by this description.
In order to fully understand what sexism is, one must also understand what it is not. Sexism is not, for example, violence towards women. A man who is willing to fight a woman is most certainly not a sexist. Anyone arguing against this fact should turn their attention to the struggle by women to be allowed admission, as full members, active in combat, into the military. If a woman can be trusted to fight in a war where she may very well kill or be killed by others, then she should not expect to be treated any differently when it comes to any other violent situation. A man who would fight a women just as he would fight another man is treating that woman as his equal and is therefore moving in the opposite direction of sexism. Just as an act of violence towards women is not sexism, neither is failure to hold a door open for a woman. The omission of chivalry from society should be seen as a triumph by feminists because it is another route to the equality of men and women. Clearly there are many situations in which, at first glance, sexism is present. But when those situations are examined more carefully it becomes apparent that they are completely void of sexist qualities.
Once one recognizes what sexism is not, one can learn what sexism is. There is no denying the fact that many women are discriminated against simply because of their gender. It is, however, worth noting that men can also be targets of sexism. One common example of sexism towards males is the stereotype of the fat, lazy man who sits around in his “man cave” all day watching sports and drinking light beer. This stereotype is just as offensive and sexist as that of the girl who spends her time shopping for expensive clothing and makeup and nagging males about relationships or chores or whatever else she might be angry about. So although women are usually the target of sexism, they can also be the culprit behind gender-based discrimination. Another common example of sexism is the compulsion many men feel to protect women from every danger a woman might encounter. This may be sexism with good intentions but assuming that women are unable to protect themselves diminishes their power in the eyes of others and can lead to a lower level of self-respect. One of the worst cases of sexism is found in the work place. Businesses are not legally required to give equal pay for equal work to men and women, and many businesses choose not to pay women as well as they pay men doing the same job. Sexism is an important issue in our society that should be confronted and until it is men and women will be unable to achieve equality.
There are countless instances of sexism to be found in the world today and there will still be sexism throughout the rest of humanity’s time on this earth. In order to be able to confront the problem of sexism, one must understand clearly and deeply what it is and why it is an issue. It is important for one to know what sexism is, and what sexism is not. There are a multitude of misconceptions concerning sexism that are very widely held. Ignorance about the issue of sexism should be fought just as hard as sexism itself. There exist, however, a great number of people who understand what sexism is, and it is their responsibility to educate those who are proliferating the type of ignorance that should be combated. Until more people realize what a problem gender-based discrimination is, and until they truly know the meaning of the term sexism, complete understanding between the genders cannot be achieved, and if that understanding can be achieved, the world will be a much better place for it. Final Definition (posted February 17 -- Peer Response February 19 ) Sexism
For thousands of years, women all over the world have been treated as second-class citizens by their male overlords. Due to males’ superior strength and higher level of aggression brought about by the amount of testosterone produced by the male body, men have held power over women in a world that, until recently, has been dominated by the people who were the strongest, fastest, most ruthless, and most intelligent specimens of the human race. These attributes were almost never found in women because of the natural, physical differences between males and females, and also because of women’s exclusion from the scholastic world and their imprisonment enforced by the cult of domesticity. In recent years, however, the need for the physical ability of men has been declining while the number of women in positions of power, especially in the western world, has been increasing tremendously. Now that women have finally been able to wrest their freedoms from the hands of men they have become bold and self-confident members of society who can compete, both mentally and physically with males, disproving the long-held belief that women are somehow less capable than men in dealing with the challenges of males. Women’s fight for equality, however, is far from over. At the front of this conflict, naturally, is the issue of sexism. The term sexism is in need of a clear definition. Many people in the general public, even quite a few feminists, are severely mistaken when it comes to the true meaning of sexism. Dictionaries define sexism as “Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.” To many people this is an effective, concise, and accurate definition. Oddly enough, however, there are many, both male and female, who are confused by this description.
In order to fully understand what sexism is, one must also understand what it is not. Sexism is not, for example, violence towards women. A man who is willing to fight a woman is most certainly not a sexist. Anyone arguing against this fact should turn their attention to the struggle by women to be allowed admission, as full members, active in combat, into the military. If a woman can be trusted to fight in a war where she may very well kill or be killed by others, then she should not expect to be treated any differently when it comes to any other violent situation. A man who would fight a women just as he would fight another man is treating that woman as his equal and is therefore moving in the opposite direction of sexism. Just as an act of violence towards women is not sexism, neither is failure to hold a door open for a woman. The omission of chivalry from society should be seen as a triumph by feminists because it is another route to the equality of men and women. Chivalry is incongruous to an efficient society in which men and women are equal; if it were to be upheld then no one would ever be able to get into a building because everybody would be trying to let everyone else go ahead of them. It is also not sexist to vote for a male politician over a female politician based on their political agenda. Someone who voted for Obama rather than Clinton in 2008 should never be called a sexist if they were motivated to do so because they agreed more strongly with Obama’s ideas. On the contrary, a woman who voted for Clinton simply because Clinton is a woman is the one who is the sexist. Clearly there are many situations in which, at first glance, sexism is present. But when those situations are examined more carefully it becomes apparent that they are completely void of sexist qualities.
Once one recognizes what sexism is not, one can learn what sexism is. There is no denying the fact that many women are discriminated against simply because of their gender. It is, however, worth noting that men can also be targets of sexism. One common example of sexism towards males is the stereotype of the fat, lazy man who sits around in his “man cave” all day watching sports and drinking light beer. This stereotype is just as offensive and sexist as that of the girl who spends her time shopping for expensive clothing and makeup and nagging males about relationships or chores or whatever else she might be angry about. So although women are usually the target of sexism, they can also be the culprit behind gender-based discrimination. Another common example of sexism is the compulsion many men feel to protect women from every danger a woman might encounter. This may be sexism with good intentions but assuming that women are unable to protect themselves diminishes their power in the eyes of others and can lead to a lower level of self-respect. One of the worst cases of sexism is found in the work place. Businesses are not legally required to give equal pay for equal work to men and women, and many businesses choose not to pay women as well as they pay men doing the same job. Sexism is an important issue in our society that should be confronted and until it is men and women will be unable to achieve equality.
There are countless instances of sexism to be found in the world today and there will still be sexism throughout the rest of humanity’s time on this earth. In order to be able to confront the problem of sexism, one must understand clearly and deeply what it is and why it is an issue. It is important for one to know what sexism is, and what sexism is not. There are a multitude of misconceptions concerning sexism that are very widely held. Ignorance about the issue of sexism should be fought just as hard as sexism itself. There exist, however, a great number of people who understand what sexism is, and it is their responsibility to educate those who are proliferating the type of ignorance that should be combated. Until more people realize what a problem gender-based discrimination is, and until they truly know the meaning of the term sexism, complete understanding between the genders cannot be achieved, and if that understanding can be achieved, the world will be a much better place for it. Reflection #1 (posted February 20 -- Peer Response February 22)
This was a pretty good essay for me.
I changed my topic a few times but I think that my final project turned out well. Although, I think I could have chosen a better topic than sexism because once I started writing this essay it became clear that I didn't have as much to say on the issue as I might have thought initially.
Overall, though, I'm happy with this essay and I think that I can definitely learn from some of the choices I made while I was writing it. Rough Draft Comparison (postedFebruary 24 -- Peer Response February 26 ) Sexist Workplaces vs. Non-sexist Workplaces
One of the worst cases of sexism in American society today is found in the office. Workplaces all over the country discriminate against women especially in the form of lower pay. Since there are no laws in the United States that require employers to pay men and women equally for doing the same amount of work, this kind of discrimination is very easy to get away with. Sexism in the workplace, however, extends beyond the payroll to influence the decisions employers make when it comes to which applicants will be hired to which positions and spreads also into the relationships between employees and employers. The fact that there are workplaces that condone sexist business practices does not, in any way, mean that there are not businesses in America that treat women fairly. There are, in fact, a large number of employers who do not discriminate against any potential employees. Because of the presence of both sexist and non-sexist workplaces in America, it is important for one to be able to recognize the differences between the two.
Another very serious issue related to sexism in the workplace is that of payment disparities between men and women. Since it is not currently illegal for a company to pay their female employees less than their male employees based on their gender, this type of sexism is very easy to get away with. It is also much less apparent to the women who are being discriminated against since it is not generally acceptable to ask others about their financial situations. This is probably the biggest problem women are faced with in a sexist workplace and it is a problem that women’s rights activists have been struggling with for years.
Sexism in the workplace is a major problem in today’s society. Its lack of presence in state and federal legislature has been a large stumbling-block for women and women’s rights activists. A discrimination-free work environment is more conducive to the happiness employees and can lead to more productive workers. Sexist workplaces can be difficult to identify at first glance, but because of the gains made in the area of women’s rights in recent years, hopefully someday sexism in the workplace will be an unnecessary concern.
Revision Comparison (posted March 2 -- Peer Response March 4) Sexist Workplaces vs. Non-sexist Workplaces
One of the worst cases of sexism in American society today is found in the office. Workplaces all over the country discriminate against women especially in the form of lower pay. Since there are no laws in the United States that require employers to pay men and women equally for doing the same amount of work, this kind of discrimination is very easy to get away with. Sexism in the workplace, however, extends beyond the payroll to influence the decisions employers make when it comes to which applicants will be hired to which positions and spreads also into the relationships between employees and employers. The fact that there are workplaces that condone sexist business practices does not, in any way, mean that there are not businesses in America that treat women fairly. There are, in fact, a large number of employers who do not discriminate against any potential employees. Because of the presence of both sexist and non-sexist workplaces in America, it is important for one to be able to recognize the differences between the two.
A workplace that discriminates against its employees based on their gender may be more difficult to recognize than one might think. The area in which work-related sexism is most obvious is the relationships between coworkers, and between employers and employees. When thinking about sexism in the workplace one often pictures a humorously corny 1950’s era video made by a company’s human resources department to teach its employees about appropriate behavior in the office, however, this type of water-cooler sexism is a very serious issue.
Another very serious issue related to sexism in the workplace is that of payment disparities between men and women. Since it is not currently illegal for a company to pay their female employees less than their male employees based on their gender, this type of sexism is very easy to get away with. It is also much less apparent to the women who are being discriminated against since it is not generally acceptable to ask others about their financial situations. This is probably the biggest problem women are faced with in a sexist workplace and it is a problem that women’s rights activists have been struggling with for years.
Sexism in the workplace is a major problem in today’s society. Its lack of presence in state and federal legislature has been a large stumbling-block for women and women’s rights activists. Sexism can destroy relationships within workplaces and make working conditions very uncomfortable for all employees. A discrimination-free work environment is more conducive to the happiness employees and can lead to more productive workers. Sexist workplaces can be difficult to identify at first glance, but because of the gains made in the area of women’s rights in recent years, hopefully someday sexism in the workplace will be an unnecessary concern. Final Comparison (posted March 9 -- Peer Response March 11) Sexist Workplaces vs. Non-sexist Workplaces
One of the worst cases of sexism in American society today is found in the office. Workplaces all over the country discriminate against women especially in the form of lower pay. Since there are no laws in the United States that require employers to pay men and women equally for doing the same amount of work, this kind of discrimination is very easy to get away with. Sexism in the workplace, however, extends beyond the payroll to influence the decisions employers make when it comes to which applicants will be hired to which positions and spreads also into the relationships between employees and employers. The fact that there are workplaces that condone sexist business practices does not, in any way, mean that there are not businesses in America that treat women fairly. There are, in fact, a large number of employers who do not discriminate against any potential employees. Because of the presence of both sexist and non-sexist workplaces in America, it is important for one to be able to recognize the differences between the two.
A workplace that discriminates against its employees based on their gender may be more difficult to recognize than one might think. The area in which work-related sexism is most obvious is the relationships between coworkers, and between employers and employees. When thinking about sexism in the workplace one often pictures a humorously corny 1950’s era video made by a company’s human resources department to teach its employees about appropriate behavior in the office, however, this type of water-cooler sexism is a very serious issue.
Another very serious issue related to sexism in the workplace is that of payment disparities between men and women. Since it is not currently illegal for a company to pay their female employees less than their male employees based on their gender, this type of sexism is very easy to get away with. It is also much less apparent to the women who are being discriminated against since it is not generally acceptable to ask others about their financial situations. This is probably the biggest problem women are faced with in a sexist workplace and it is a problem that women’s rights activists have been struggling with for years.
Sexism in the workplace is a major problem in today’s society. Its lack of presence in state and federal legislature has been a large stumbling-block for women and women’s rights activists. Sexism can destroy relationships within workplaces and make working conditions very uncomfortable for all employees. A discrimination-free work environment is more conducive to the happiness employees and can lead to more productive workers. Sexist workplaces can be difficult to identify at first glance, but because of the gains made in the area of women’s rights in recent years, hopefully someday sexism in the workplace will be an unnecessary concern. Reflection #2 (posted March 16 -- Peer Response March 25)
Rough Draft Argument (posted April 6 -- Peer Response April 8)
Revision Argument (posted April 13 -- Peer Response April 15)
Final Argument (posted April 20 -- Peer Response April 23)
Hey there.
I guess I'm here to introduce myself to you all. So I'll start with my opinions on school. I'm not really a guy with lofty goals. I don't particularly care about doing well in school, but I do enjoy learning. AP lang is a little bit too much work for me, but I'm doing my best to keep up with everything we're being assigned.
Besides that, I just like to have fun. Some of my favorite things to do are longboarding and weight lifting. I also enjoy football, track and field, art, music, and creative writing. I'd like to play soccer because I think it's a great game but I don't quite have the endurance for that, so I'll stick to being a spectator. I really enjoy being active and being outside. Camping and exploring nature are some of the best things to do, in my opinion. I'm really excited to graduate high school and move on to college, hopefully somewhere far, far away from Iowa. Mostly because I despise winter but also because Iowa has become extremely boring. I also love to travel. I hope to be fluent in German someday, and perhaps live in Germany either temporarily or permanently.
Mostly, I'm open to whatever life has to give me, and I try to make the most out of any situation I'm in. I hope to improve my relationships with you all over this semester, and maybe even learn a little bit about the English language.
Personal Reflection on Topic of Inquiry(posted January 27 -- Peer Response January 29)
Recently, I realized the huge disparities in economic status throughout the world. Here in America, we complain about not having the newest iPhone or computer or the best car or cool clothes, But in developing countries in other parts of the world, people are elated just to be able to eat for the day. The people who Americans, and the rest of the western world, consider to be poor, would be some of the wealthier people in most places. It hardly seems fair that we should have so much while the rest of the world has so little, but very few of us would make even a small sacrifice to help people who are struggling to survive.
I used to think that the citizens of third-world countries should be able to help themselves out of poverty. I thought that it wasn't my problem, and that I should let them take care of themselves while I handled my own business. It was easy for me to feel this way because I was tired of all of America's interference in the affairs of other countries, and I still am tired of it, but in some cases, perhaps, it's necessary.
I believe that every member of the human race could live comfortably, if the minority of us, who consider themselves "middle class" while the rest of the world is starving to death, would give up just a small part of our relative wealth to help the ones who need it the most. The people of the world have a lot of potential, but they can't realize that potential when their entire life is spent struggling to survive. Maybe the world would be a better place if they could make their contributions to society, technology, science, literature, and all of the other areas from which they are excluded by fate.
The real question is, when will we help?
Rough Draft Definition (posted February 3 -- Peer Response February 5)
Sexism
For thousands of years, women all over the world have been treated as second-class citizens by their male overlords. Due to males’ superior strength and higher level of aggression brought about by the amount of testosterone produced by the male body, men have held power over women in a world that, until recently, has been dominated by the people who were the strongest, fastest, most ruthless, and most intelligent specimens of the human race. These attributes were almost never found in women because of the natural, physical differences between males and females, and also because of women’s exclusion from the scholastic world and their imprisonment enforced by the cult of domesticity. In recent years, however, the need for the physical ability of men has been declining while the number of women in positions of power, especially in the western world, has been increasing tremendously. Now that women have finally been able to wrest their freedoms from the hands of men they have become bold and self-confident members of society who can compete, both mentally and physically with males, disproving the long-held belief that women are somehow less capable than men in dealing with the challenges of males. Women’s fight for equality, however, is far from over. At the front of this conflict, naturally, is the issue of sexism. The term sexism is in need of a clear definition. Many people in the general public, even quite a few feminists, are severely mistaken when it comes to the true meaning of sexism. Dictionaries define sexism as “Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.” To many people this is an effective, concise, and accurate definition. Oddly enough, however, there are many, both male and female, who are confused by this description.
There is no denying the fact that many women are discriminated against simply because of their gender. It is, however, worth noting that men can also be targets of sexism. One common example of sexism towards males is the stereotype of the fat, lazy man who sits around in his “man cave” all day watching sports and drinking light beer. This stereotype is just as offensive and sexist as that of the girl who spends her time shopping for expensive clothing and makeup and nagging males about relationships or chores or whatever else she might be angry about. So although women are usually the target of sexism, they can also be the culprit behind gender-based discrimination. Another common example of sexism is the compulsion many men feel to protect women from every danger a woman might encounter. This may be sexism with good intentions but assuming that women are unable to protect themselves diminishes their power in the eyes of others and can lead to a lower level of self-respect. One of the worst cases of sexism is found in the work place. Businesses are not legally required to give equal pay for equal work to men and women, and many businesses choose not to pay women as well as they pay men doing the same job. Sexism is an important issue in our society that should be confronted and until it is men and women will be unable to achieve equality.
There are countless instances of sexism to be found in the world today and there will still be sexism throughout the rest of humanity’s time on this earth. In order to be able to confront the problem of sexism, one must understand clearly and deeply what it is and why it is an issue. It is important for one to know what sexism is, and what sexism is not. There are a multitude of misconceptions concerning sexism that are very widely held. Ignorance about the issue of sexism should be fought just as hard as sexism itself. There exist, however, a great number of people who understand what sexism is, and it is their responsibility to educate those who are proliferating the type of ignorance that should be combated. Until more people realize what a problem gender-based discrimination is, and until they truly know the meaning of the term sexism, complete understanding between the genders cannot be achieved, and if that understanding can be achieved, the world will be a much better place for it.
Revision Definition (posted February 10 -- Peer Response February 12 )
Sexism
For thousands of years, women all over the world have been treated as second-class citizens by their male overlords. Due to males’ superior strength and higher level of aggression brought about by the amount of testosterone produced by the male body, men have held power over women in a world that, until recently, has been dominated by the people who were the strongest, fastest, most ruthless, and most intelligent specimens of the human race. These attributes were almost never found in women because of the natural, physical differences between males and females, and also because of women’s exclusion from the scholastic world and their imprisonment enforced by the cult of domesticity. In recent years, however, the need for the physical ability of men has been declining while the number of women in positions of power, especially in the western world, has been increasing tremendously. Now that women have finally been able to wrest their freedoms from the hands of men they have become bold and self-confident members of society who can compete, both mentally and physically with males, disproving the long-held belief that women are somehow less capable than men in dealing with the challenges of males. Women’s fight for equality, however, is far from over. At the front of this conflict, naturally, is the issue of sexism. The term sexism is in need of a clear definition. Many people in the general public, even quite a few feminists, are severely mistaken when it comes to the true meaning of sexism. Dictionaries define sexism as “Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.” To many people this is an effective, concise, and accurate definition. Oddly enough, however, there are many, both male and female, who are confused by this description.
In order to fully understand what sexism is, one must also understand what it is not. Sexism is not, for example, violence towards women. A man who is willing to fight a woman is most certainly not a sexist. Anyone arguing against this fact should turn their attention to the struggle by women to be allowed admission, as full members, active in combat, into the military. If a woman can be trusted to fight in a war where she may very well kill or be killed by others, then she should not expect to be treated any differently when it comes to any other violent situation. A man who would fight a women just as he would fight another man is treating that woman as his equal and is therefore moving in the opposite direction of sexism. Just as an act of violence towards women is not sexism, neither is failure to hold a door open for a woman. The omission of chivalry from society should be seen as a triumph by feminists because it is another route to the equality of men and women. Clearly there are many situations in which, at first glance, sexism is present. But when those situations are examined more carefully it becomes apparent that they are completely void of sexist qualities.
Once one recognizes what sexism is not, one can learn what sexism is. There is no denying the fact that many women are discriminated against simply because of their gender. It is, however, worth noting that men can also be targets of sexism. One common example of sexism towards males is the stereotype of the fat, lazy man who sits around in his “man cave” all day watching sports and drinking light beer. This stereotype is just as offensive and sexist as that of the girl who spends her time shopping for expensive clothing and makeup and nagging males about relationships or chores or whatever else she might be angry about. So although women are usually the target of sexism, they can also be the culprit behind gender-based discrimination. Another common example of sexism is the compulsion many men feel to protect women from every danger a woman might encounter. This may be sexism with good intentions but assuming that women are unable to protect themselves diminishes their power in the eyes of others and can lead to a lower level of self-respect. One of the worst cases of sexism is found in the work place. Businesses are not legally required to give equal pay for equal work to men and women, and many businesses choose not to pay women as well as they pay men doing the same job. Sexism is an important issue in our society that should be confronted and until it is men and women will be unable to achieve equality.
There are countless instances of sexism to be found in the world today and there will still be sexism throughout the rest of humanity’s time on this earth. In order to be able to confront the problem of sexism, one must understand clearly and deeply what it is and why it is an issue. It is important for one to know what sexism is, and what sexism is not. There are a multitude of misconceptions concerning sexism that are very widely held. Ignorance about the issue of sexism should be fought just as hard as sexism itself. There exist, however, a great number of people who understand what sexism is, and it is their responsibility to educate those who are proliferating the type of ignorance that should be combated. Until more people realize what a problem gender-based discrimination is, and until they truly know the meaning of the term sexism, complete understanding between the genders cannot be achieved, and if that understanding can be achieved, the world will be a much better place for it.
Final Definition (posted February 17 -- Peer Response February 19 )
Sexism
For thousands of years, women all over the world have been treated as second-class citizens by their male overlords. Due to males’ superior strength and higher level of aggression brought about by the amount of testosterone produced by the male body, men have held power over women in a world that, until recently, has been dominated by the people who were the strongest, fastest, most ruthless, and most intelligent specimens of the human race. These attributes were almost never found in women because of the natural, physical differences between males and females, and also because of women’s exclusion from the scholastic world and their imprisonment enforced by the cult of domesticity. In recent years, however, the need for the physical ability of men has been declining while the number of women in positions of power, especially in the western world, has been increasing tremendously. Now that women have finally been able to wrest their freedoms from the hands of men they have become bold and self-confident members of society who can compete, both mentally and physically with males, disproving the long-held belief that women are somehow less capable than men in dealing with the challenges of males. Women’s fight for equality, however, is far from over. At the front of this conflict, naturally, is the issue of sexism. The term sexism is in need of a clear definition. Many people in the general public, even quite a few feminists, are severely mistaken when it comes to the true meaning of sexism. Dictionaries define sexism as “Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.” To many people this is an effective, concise, and accurate definition. Oddly enough, however, there are many, both male and female, who are confused by this description.
In order to fully understand what sexism is, one must also understand what it is not. Sexism is not, for example, violence towards women. A man who is willing to fight a woman is most certainly not a sexist. Anyone arguing against this fact should turn their attention to the struggle by women to be allowed admission, as full members, active in combat, into the military. If a woman can be trusted to fight in a war where she may very well kill or be killed by others, then she should not expect to be treated any differently when it comes to any other violent situation. A man who would fight a women just as he would fight another man is treating that woman as his equal and is therefore moving in the opposite direction of sexism. Just as an act of violence towards women is not sexism, neither is failure to hold a door open for a woman. The omission of chivalry from society should be seen as a triumph by feminists because it is another route to the equality of men and women. Chivalry is incongruous to an efficient society in which men and women are equal; if it were to be upheld then no one would ever be able to get into a building because everybody would be trying to let everyone else go ahead of them. It is also not sexist to vote for a male politician over a female politician based on their political agenda. Someone who voted for Obama rather than Clinton in 2008 should never be called a sexist if they were motivated to do so because they agreed more strongly with Obama’s ideas. On the contrary, a woman who voted for Clinton simply because Clinton is a woman is the one who is the sexist. Clearly there are many situations in which, at first glance, sexism is present. But when those situations are examined more carefully it becomes apparent that they are completely void of sexist qualities.
Once one recognizes what sexism is not, one can learn what sexism is. There is no denying the fact that many women are discriminated against simply because of their gender. It is, however, worth noting that men can also be targets of sexism. One common example of sexism towards males is the stereotype of the fat, lazy man who sits around in his “man cave” all day watching sports and drinking light beer. This stereotype is just as offensive and sexist as that of the girl who spends her time shopping for expensive clothing and makeup and nagging males about relationships or chores or whatever else she might be angry about. So although women are usually the target of sexism, they can also be the culprit behind gender-based discrimination. Another common example of sexism is the compulsion many men feel to protect women from every danger a woman might encounter. This may be sexism with good intentions but assuming that women are unable to protect themselves diminishes their power in the eyes of others and can lead to a lower level of self-respect. One of the worst cases of sexism is found in the work place. Businesses are not legally required to give equal pay for equal work to men and women, and many businesses choose not to pay women as well as they pay men doing the same job. Sexism is an important issue in our society that should be confronted and until it is men and women will be unable to achieve equality.
There are countless instances of sexism to be found in the world today and there will still be sexism throughout the rest of humanity’s time on this earth. In order to be able to confront the problem of sexism, one must understand clearly and deeply what it is and why it is an issue. It is important for one to know what sexism is, and what sexism is not. There are a multitude of misconceptions concerning sexism that are very widely held. Ignorance about the issue of sexism should be fought just as hard as sexism itself. There exist, however, a great number of people who understand what sexism is, and it is their responsibility to educate those who are proliferating the type of ignorance that should be combated. Until more people realize what a problem gender-based discrimination is, and until they truly know the meaning of the term sexism, complete understanding between the genders cannot be achieved, and if that understanding can be achieved, the world will be a much better place for it.
Reflection #1 (posted February 20 -- Peer Response February 22)
This was a pretty good essay for me.
I changed my topic a few times but I think that my final project turned out well. Although, I think I could have chosen a better topic than sexism because once I started writing this essay it became clear that I didn't have as much to say on the issue as I might have thought initially.
Overall, though, I'm happy with this essay and I think that I can definitely learn from some of the choices I made while I was writing it.
Rough Draft Comparison (postedFebruary 24 -- Peer Response February 26 )
Sexist Workplaces vs. Non-sexist Workplaces
One of the worst cases of sexism in American society today is found in the office. Workplaces all over the country discriminate against women especially in the form of lower pay. Since there are no laws in the United States that require employers to pay men and women equally for doing the same amount of work, this kind of discrimination is very easy to get away with. Sexism in the workplace, however, extends beyond the payroll to influence the decisions employers make when it comes to which applicants will be hired to which positions and spreads also into the relationships between employees and employers. The fact that there are workplaces that condone sexist business practices does not, in any way, mean that there are not businesses in America that treat women fairly. There are, in fact, a large number of employers who do not discriminate against any potential employees. Because of the presence of both sexist and non-sexist workplaces in America, it is important for one to be able to recognize the differences between the two.
Another very serious issue related to sexism in the workplace is that of payment disparities between men and women. Since it is not currently illegal for a company to pay their female employees less than their male employees based on their gender, this type of sexism is very easy to get away with. It is also much less apparent to the women who are being discriminated against since it is not generally acceptable to ask others about their financial situations. This is probably the biggest problem women are faced with in a sexist workplace and it is a problem that women’s rights activists have been struggling with for years.
Sexism in the workplace is a major problem in today’s society. Its lack of presence in state and federal legislature has been a large stumbling-block for women and women’s rights activists. A discrimination-free work environment is more conducive to the happiness employees and can lead to more productive workers. Sexist workplaces can be difficult to identify at first glance, but because of the gains made in the area of women’s rights in recent years, hopefully someday sexism in the workplace will be an unnecessary concern.
Revision Comparison (posted March 2 -- Peer Response March 4)
Sexist Workplaces vs. Non-sexist Workplaces
One of the worst cases of sexism in American society today is found in the office. Workplaces all over the country discriminate against women especially in the form of lower pay. Since there are no laws in the United States that require employers to pay men and women equally for doing the same amount of work, this kind of discrimination is very easy to get away with. Sexism in the workplace, however, extends beyond the payroll to influence the decisions employers make when it comes to which applicants will be hired to which positions and spreads also into the relationships between employees and employers. The fact that there are workplaces that condone sexist business practices does not, in any way, mean that there are not businesses in America that treat women fairly. There are, in fact, a large number of employers who do not discriminate against any potential employees. Because of the presence of both sexist and non-sexist workplaces in America, it is important for one to be able to recognize the differences between the two.
A workplace that discriminates against its employees based on their gender may be more difficult to recognize than one might think. The area in which work-related sexism is most obvious is the relationships between coworkers, and between employers and employees. When thinking about sexism in the workplace one often pictures a humorously corny 1950’s era video made by a company’s human resources department to teach its employees about appropriate behavior in the office, however, this type of water-cooler sexism is a very serious issue.
Another very serious issue related to sexism in the workplace is that of payment disparities between men and women. Since it is not currently illegal for a company to pay their female employees less than their male employees based on their gender, this type of sexism is very easy to get away with. It is also much less apparent to the women who are being discriminated against since it is not generally acceptable to ask others about their financial situations. This is probably the biggest problem women are faced with in a sexist workplace and it is a problem that women’s rights activists have been struggling with for years.
Sexism in the workplace is a major problem in today’s society. Its lack of presence in state and federal legislature has been a large stumbling-block for women and women’s rights activists. Sexism can destroy relationships within workplaces and make working conditions very uncomfortable for all employees. A discrimination-free work environment is more conducive to the happiness employees and can lead to more productive workers. Sexist workplaces can be difficult to identify at first glance, but because of the gains made in the area of women’s rights in recent years, hopefully someday sexism in the workplace will be an unnecessary concern.
Final Comparison (posted March 9 -- Peer Response March 11)
Sexist Workplaces vs. Non-sexist Workplaces
One of the worst cases of sexism in American society today is found in the office. Workplaces all over the country discriminate against women especially in the form of lower pay. Since there are no laws in the United States that require employers to pay men and women equally for doing the same amount of work, this kind of discrimination is very easy to get away with. Sexism in the workplace, however, extends beyond the payroll to influence the decisions employers make when it comes to which applicants will be hired to which positions and spreads also into the relationships between employees and employers. The fact that there are workplaces that condone sexist business practices does not, in any way, mean that there are not businesses in America that treat women fairly. There are, in fact, a large number of employers who do not discriminate against any potential employees. Because of the presence of both sexist and non-sexist workplaces in America, it is important for one to be able to recognize the differences between the two.
A workplace that discriminates against its employees based on their gender may be more difficult to recognize than one might think. The area in which work-related sexism is most obvious is the relationships between coworkers, and between employers and employees. When thinking about sexism in the workplace one often pictures a humorously corny 1950’s era video made by a company’s human resources department to teach its employees about appropriate behavior in the office, however, this type of water-cooler sexism is a very serious issue.
Another very serious issue related to sexism in the workplace is that of payment disparities between men and women. Since it is not currently illegal for a company to pay their female employees less than their male employees based on their gender, this type of sexism is very easy to get away with. It is also much less apparent to the women who are being discriminated against since it is not generally acceptable to ask others about their financial situations. This is probably the biggest problem women are faced with in a sexist workplace and it is a problem that women’s rights activists have been struggling with for years.
Sexism in the workplace is a major problem in today’s society. Its lack of presence in state and federal legislature has been a large stumbling-block for women and women’s rights activists. Sexism can destroy relationships within workplaces and make working conditions very uncomfortable for all employees. A discrimination-free work environment is more conducive to the happiness employees and can lead to more productive workers. Sexist workplaces can be difficult to identify at first glance, but because of the gains made in the area of women’s rights in recent years, hopefully someday sexism in the workplace will be an unnecessary concern.
Reflection #2 (posted March 16 -- Peer Response March 25)
Rough Draft Argument (posted April 6 -- Peer Response April 8)
Revision Argument (posted April 13 -- Peer Response April 15)
Final Argument (posted April 20 -- Peer Response April 23)
Reflection #3 (posted April 23)